BMW saga handled 'sloppily' - Key

BMW 7 Series. Photo / Supplied

Prime Minister John Key this afternoon acknowledged his Government's handling of its purchase of 34 new BMW limousines has been "sloppy", as he released documents showing the deal was mentioned to his office numerous times.

Mr Key has said he first learned of the plan to renew Ministerial Services' fleet of luxury vehicles two weeks ago from one of his drivers.

Today, however, his office released a series of documents which were provided to his office dating back to early 2009 which make references to the deal. They include a series of emails between Mr Key's chief of staff and the manager of VIP Transport Services in July last year.

"My chief of staff has no recollection of that meeting and there was no follow up from him or DIA. He had apologised for not drawing the matter to my attention at the time," said Mr Key.

"These papers show a series of lapses in the handling of what should have been recognised as a sensitive issue of significant public interest."

Mr Key said he aknowledged, "the matter should have been handled better by everybody, including myself.

"The whole thing has been sloppy and frankly the public deserves better."

Mr Key said the deal was still a good one, but regardless of its economic merits, "the public would think that the Government is not practising what it preaches in terms of the importance of wider restraint across the public sector".